Roman Boxer Found in the City of David

A tiny statue (about 6 centimeters high by 4 centimeters wide) dating to the second or third century has been discovered in excavations of the Giv’ati Parking Lot across from the City of David. The shape of the face leads archaeologists to believe that an athlete is depicted, most probably a boxer. Boxing was the most popular sport in the Roman Empire. The statue was damaged in an earthquake which destroyed the site.